The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has escalated his ongoing drive to reclaim and reallocate government land by dramatically cutting down the land holdings of the University of Abuja in the Giri District. The minister announced the decision to reduce the university’s allocated land from 11,000 hectares to just 4,000 hectares, citing illegal acquisition and lack of proper documentation.
Speaking during the commissioning of newly constructed access roads in the district, Wike criticized the university for allegedly fencing off vast areas of land without due process.
“The University on their own grabbed 11,000 hectares. I said that will not happen. No document, nothing. You see them fencing everywhere, and before you know it, they would have gone to sell our land,” the minister declared.
Following his directive, the FCT Director of Lands and relevant agencies have been instructed to formalize the allocation of only 4,000 hectares to the institution. The remaining 7,000 hectares, Wike said, would be earmarked for future government development projects aimed at expanding infrastructure and stimulating economic activity in the district.
Plans to Boost Infrastructure and Development
Wike assured residents and stakeholders that the recovered land would be put to strategic use, with detailed plans already underway to introduce more internal road networks within the district.
“Having created this access road, we have told the Executive Secretary of FCDA and other relevant agencies to start working on details of how we are going to do the roads within the district. So, be assured that maybe next one year, it will be a different thing,” he said.
He emphasized that better road networks and essential amenities are critical to attracting investments and encouraging rapid urban development.
FCTA Set to Facilitate More Institutions and Projects
Highlighting the administration’s broader agenda for the district, Wike revealed discussions with the National Assembly to establish additional institutions in the area. He pledged that the FCT Administration would readily provide land to support such initiatives.
Meanwhile, with the completion of the new access road, the EFCC Academy in the district is now expected to commence full operations.
“They will start the academy immediately because now they have access roads that they can move in their equipment and develop this. And when this comes, you see that other people will also move in and develop their own area,” Wike noted.
Commitment to Essential Infrastructure
Wike also underscored how inadequate infrastructure often hampers development, promising that his administration would prioritize the provision of critical facilities like roads, water, and electricity to unlock the area’s full economic potential.
“Most of the problems we’re having here is that sometimes when you allocate land, there are no facilities, no infrastructure, and people are not encouraged. So, we will do everything we can to see that basic infrastructure is being provided,” he affirmed.